In my understanding these is no gap of GIS related technologies, but there is a big difference b/w them based on:

1) use of software and hardware, and

2) motives for purchasing.

Thank you Tayyab for your responce.

I appreciate your thoughts and I believe that you are correct as regards the "big difference" issue. Of course, open source GIS software, through internet, could be an alternative perspective of elimination of any possible technological gaps between nations and scientists, however there is an issue as long as in many regions of developing countries there isn't even any electricity yet...

Indeed, back at your answer, a substantial difference as regards the economic investments that are used for supporting technologies and equipment are "motives of purchasing" as you say. What do you think about protecting human lives as a motive! Back in March 2006, I have informed the Greek Civil Protection Agency about the possibility to develop a "GIS task force" in the field supporting coordination and management of all units and people information related with fires' incidents, based on an article of ESRI's ArcNews : (http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0304articles/gis-helps.html). The responce was that -back then - they only had one man for GIS purposes in the office as investments were not anticipated for such a unit! Unfortunately, next year, big fires occured in Greece shocking the whole world with their deadly results, especially in the Peloponnese region: 84 people died, 2,711 sq. km and thousands of buildings and houses were burned out with billions of dollars costs in damages (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Greek_forest_fires). Besides of other factors that promoted this unseen fire destruction in Greece, one of the main factor was the absence of proper and coordinating support to fire fighters (some of them lost their lives)! As you understand, I could not believe it myself, too! I couldn't understand how some people haven't seen the potentials of the "use and motives of purchasing" the necessary GIS equipment (sw & hw) for applying necessary operational activities, especially in such a demanding framework as fire fight is!

Unfortunately, dear Tayyab, even today, on 5th June of 2014, standing before the hot days of this summer Greece and, besides any Geospatial advancements, operational high-tech projects and support that exist in my country, I am not sure if such a "GIS task force" exists...

In my opinion, the difference is related to data availability. Usually developing countries lack database structures and data deliver facilities. Few data is generated and even less data are made available to users.

Dear Elvio, I agree with you up to the data availability, but whatever data developing countries generated instead of using it for planning and monitoring purposes, they prefer to upload the data for others.........

Dear Abraham, I support this slogan "protecting human lives as a motive." The following site may be of some relevance to your motive: http://www.unocha.org/what-we-do/coordination-tools/undac/overview

Thank you very much Elvio. That is correct what you say, but I think there are some international organizations regulating web-based infrastructures of geodata repositories that could be approached by anyone (or at least registered) end-user via internet at no cost. For example:

- ICSU World Data System

-NERC Earth Observation Data Centre (NEODC)

-EUMETSAT

and of course,

-GEOSS portal

and many more...

Now, if you think about the lack of geospatial and web-related facilities (s/w & h/w) in developing countries, as well as of experts to interact with these information, the technological gap is obvious.

It would be very interesting to get informed of a study that could show us the quantity and versions of geospatial packages and facilities that exist in developed countries, in contrast with those of the developing countries. I wonder how is this (propable)) difference is related to other, more obvious differences as regards enhanced environmental policies, sustainable development, wildlife protection, poverty alleviation, etc.

Thank you very much Tayyab for the link. It was very interesting, especially as regards the exceptional work of UNDAC.

I agree with Elvio. While, like Abraham mentions that, there are lots of resources for global geodatabases, there is a lack of data types being taken in developing countries. While 1x1 meter NAIP data is available across the U.S.A., there are many countries that don't have this resolution/type of data for their region. Another example: LiDAR is more readily available for developed countries and than developing countries. Therefore, the types of projects could be limited in areas without these data.

There is no gap from technology....point of view but only problem is availiblity of data base in developing country...

Yes I think you are correct but also the difference is based on the technological know how between the developed and developing countries. the developed country has both the manpower, resources, technology and all to maintain such while the developing countries might have the resources but the intelligence consistencies might be the lacking factor.

An interested portal for further information is GISDECO, a network on related issues on developing countries: .

As it says, "GISDECO is an international network of GIS experts, planners and project managers engaged in GIS applications in developing countries that provides a forum for the exchange of knowledge about emerging research and practical experiences with GIS-applications by organising seminars and workshops in various countries."

I would say there is gap between geospatial technologies in developing and developed countries such as data discovery, management(database technology) and data storage etc. However, the big gap is in the adoption of standards.

One thing very important that I missed above is the use of Open Source GIS Technology. Developed countries although are economically stronger are making use of open source geospatial technologies whereas developing countries most of which have fragile economy are using expansive commercial GIS software. Is this not a big gap.

Dear Asmat thank you very much for your contribution. I believe that your information (in both answers) is very significant. However, believe me, I have seen through my research some projects that you have worked on in Pakistan that we haven't even thought about in Europe because, until now, there isn't such an issue. However, the collaboration of countries from both categories (developed and developing) have succeeded in delivering great results and I believe such kinds of collaborations should be further promoted and enhanced with additional funding schemes and opportunities. I would propose to take a look at "GIS of poverty mapping analysis for

Pakistan" of Nabeela Arshad : .

Regards, Abraham

Dear Abraham, thanks for your compliments and providing link to a very useful paper.

Dear Friend,

First of all, I would like to express my own experience that there is no technological difference in the GIS software and hardware in both the developed and the developing countries. because of the globalisation, the GIS software and hardware is available in the market all over the globe.

The major difference is lack of financial support or aid for installing or developing a complete suit of GIS laboratories in the developing countries.

Second point, man power, highly experienced and huge in number available in the developing countries (for example, India).

Application of GIS is limited, because, lack of financial resource.

Limited field application of GIS for multi-sectorial and multi-disciplinary approach for decision making, and sustainable development.

Most of the sectors and industries are functioning or undertaking by the government (Developing countries), and vice versa., and so on.

M.Palaniyandi

As far software and hard ware are concern there is no differences at all. But the reuired database for software and storage of data may be problems for developing country due to higher cost involve in data storage and skilled manpower to manage. 

At present, most of the Information Technology (IT) INC private company is established and are working in the major cities of India, which are basically foreign countries oriented and  funded by them. as for as, human resource is concern, we have well trained and qualified huge man power in India for solving many problems and for decision making. Even today, the  recruitment of GIS oriented jobs in India is found only in few government sectors and few disciplines, and GIS training courses or graduate degree courses are conducted in few colleges / Universities in the developing countries, and have a traditional thought / opinion that it is belonging to a particular major subjects.But, the vision and mission of GIS courses and its applications are different and wide in developed countries. The potential use of GIS applications in various sectors in the developing countries are lacking behind when compare with developed countries, and they are explored and utilized potentially.

There is a big gap between developed & developing countries in the use of GIS &RS technologies. One can see that people who use open source or low cost GIS/RS softwares  have  by and large access to commercial GIS/RS hard wares & soft wares whether they are from developed countries or developing countries. Access to hardware & software is still a constraint in having sufficient expertise and manpower. Though there is substantial improvements in the recent years due to revolutions in IT, still there is shortage of expertise. GIS need to emerge as a tool for spatial thinking & analysis. Various aspects associated with  Spatial data capture, storage, processing , retrieval   requires more improvement in developing countries  than developed countries. The number of applications are also relatively much lower in under  developed nations. In fact, if we look at the scope of application, one can see that  there is substantial scope of application in the use of these technologies as most of the problems are spatial in nature. Efforts from the the commercial GIS hardware & software companies to bring down the cost using the large number of potential customers in the developing world can help in providing substantially increase in the scope of application of this technology.